Should Link Talk and is it Necessary

In this opinion piece, the topic of whether Link should or should not speak is discussed. And by speak, author Dany Fryling suggests more than just head nods for communication from the silent hero.

[ShadowKnight]

It doesn't really matter to me. I've been playing Zelda for a long time and it was never a problem IMO.

[3-4-5]

Link speaking is going to please like 5,000 really loud and whiney annoying people.

Everyone else is fine with Link not speaking. His silence ( aside from noises) adds to the mystique of the world and allows the player to become link.

Him speaking takes you out of the role of link and you just become more of a bystander at that point.

* Your own voice in your head when you read IS link, which makes it cater to each player, man or women.

Adding a voice, considering how cheesy a lot of voice acting is, could potentially tarnish the series.

Why just so like 1-5% of the fanbase has one less thing to complain about ?

[Hoffmann]

Voice acting became a standard almost 20 years ago already. But sometimes..Nintendo is a bit behind the standards as we all know.

[ShadowKnight]

From the Developer:
"Personally, I don't want to have Link speak in the game. We haven't had him talk at all up to this point. It's part of the series history. It would just, to me, break the image of Link to have him speak," he said.

Gordon Freeman didn't speak either in Half Life. He is a clearly defined and deep character without having ever said a word, and he's been in a hundred fewer games than Link.

Link have always been without speech... somehow it makes sense too, the other characters usually responds that he does an emotion or something, never says he "says" something. Example, in Wind Waker, if you answer yes or no, you nod or shake your head... just keep Link speechless. Adds to his charm.

http://www.gamesradar.com/z...

[bcornett14]

@ShadowKnight - I like this thought. It works for the character and the game. The rebooted Tomb Raider series would not have been the same if Lara didn't speak as much as she did.

[Neonridr]

I would say it has less to do with being behind the standards and more about fitting in line with what we have come to expect from Nintendo franchises.

[BullyMangler]

A standard ? .

yep, a standard for all copy cat drones, who dont think outside the box.

Zelda games, have always been reading adventures. And reading breeds new neurological pathways.

[Hoffmann]

Almost all adventure series started with readong only. But times changed, just some companies and some series didnt. Maybe thats why Nintendo consoles don't sell so good anymore too.

[BullyMangler]

@Hoff

Reading engulfs players @ a deeper level, and does not affect gameplay.

So Voice in zelda, would only decrease its presentational value.

[DragonKnight]

@bully: Sorry but in interactive media, reading breaks immersion and makes you fully aware that you are not part of the story, just a plot moving device.

[blawren4]

Standards for gaming have never been established, to my knowledge. Nor should they

[Philface]

It's a decision of artstile not that what you think. Many Fans and the creators want it that way that he does not speak. It adds more imarssion.

[Pookandpie]

I honestly feel that Link being a silent protagonist is part of his character, at this point, which Aonuma seems to think so, too.

I can't seriously be the only person who still likes the occasional silent protagonist, can I?

[wonderfulmonkeyman]

I feel that Skyward Sword's level of emotion should become the new standard for Link.

The answers you could select from during certain parts helped give a sense of personality to Link, and his expressions were much more varied and full of life.

It helped to pull me into the experience much more than just giving him a voice actor and some lines ever could.

[Umbasa]

No and no.

[kotaku77]

Hey! Look! Listen!

[DragonKnight]

At this point there isn't a voice actor in the world that Nintendo or LoZ fanboys would accept so there's no real point.